Thread: Member and practicing for 1 year now...and here are the results

Hello fellow shavers,

It's been exactly 12 months now since I've started shaving with a straight razor. It has been a bumpy road but I can honestly say that I now can shave extremely smooth: sideburns, neck, chin & upperlip. All with-, across- & against the grain.

Most difficult part is to get the upperlip really and I mean really ultra smooth. I've avoided the fools pass for quite a while but that never gave me a satisfied feeling. The sides, neck & chin where smoot except my upperlip. So I started here too to shave against the grain and this caused (quite) some cuts, nicks and swearing but I've come to the conclusion that verything there is to know about shaving comes together on the upperlip.

The type of steel really makes a difference: a Thiers-Issard damast razor shaves VERY different compared to a hollowground Dovo or a vintage silversteel Wade & Butcher. For me a more heavy & solid blade works best so I prefer damast to achieve the best results. In all cases it stayes extremely important to use a surgical sharp blade. In some case if I notice that the razor starts to 'pull' or the resistance increases slightly I just stop and strop the razor 2-3 times on leather and 7-10 times on canvas.

Also the angle is much different: almost flat against the skin while the rest I use an angle of 30-45 degrees. Overstretching the upperlip doesn't help compared to the sides or chin. What does help is the preparation before your shave: the hotter the water the better, also the mix of lather makes a difference in the quality of the shave: when I make my lather I use a combo of 2 creams (Proraso/Trumpers) or a combo of a few drops of shaving oil and cream. And I always preshave with Proraso menthol & Prep > this better prepares the skin/whiskers to be shaved.

Final points of shaving the upperlip: I use 2 hands to keep the blade steady, I never push the razor but move my face downwards and I've never altered my nose. This skill took me 6 months to develop and I must say that I now shave most of the times nick-free.

Next step is a video but shaving the upperlip but something (scared) is holding me back.

How are your experiences with shaving the upperlip?


Greetings from Amsterdam,
Mark-Peter
Yes, I've become a collector too

Congratulations on your success, I can't comment on shaving the upper lip. That and the chin have only ever been shaved twice in the last 15 + years, but I didn't have any issue with it either time. Smooth, comfortable both times and without all the drama you seem to have had. I would say you've finally found a system that works for you. Well done.


Mick

Hi Mark-Peter,

Good to hear of your success! I had no idea you started but a year ago, especially judging from your collection

I still have a hard time doing the fool's pass, even though I did it from the first shave. The whiskers there are very tough and I can only get the razor to move with a slicing/scything motion, otherwise it just gets stuck.

By the way, did you move to Amsterdam?

Excellent review on one year. Thank you.

I have never had a problem shaving my upper lip with a straight razor and never will. Mustache has been is in the way since 1970.

I have to do my upper lip almost identical to how you've described it. With and across the grain there never make it smooth. I've been going for a year as well, and just in the last couple months started to figure this area out good. I also agree on the razor used. One of mine does an exceptional job on the upper lip, a couple average, and the other couple blades I've come to the realization that I can't get my upper lip BBS. Has to be something with the grind or steel...because they're just as sharp as the others.

Hi Laurens, the office has moved to Amsterdam...

How's life?

Cheers, MP

good or bad, post a video... At least for us noobs

Originally Posted by Powerreserve

Hi Laurens, the office has moved to Amsterdam...

How's life?

Cheers, MP

Ah, I see. I'm currently doing my master thesis in Delft till June, followed by an industrial internship after which I graduate! Meanwhile, I'm spending too much time modifying Gold Dollars, making scales and honing razors.

How about you? Business still good?

Cheers!